Chennai: The Supreme Court has agreed to hear as urgent case on 15 March, the DMK petition to conduct by-elections in the three constituencies now excluded from the schedule.

DMK president M K Stalin had yesterday expressed doubts about the reasons for not holding elections to Ottapidaram, Thiruparankundram and Aravakurichi. The Election Commission had stated that there were poll cases involving these three constituencies and, hence, they could not be included in the election schedule.

But, during the DMK meeting yesterday, involving districts secretaries, MPs and MLAs, a resolution was passed by the party to urge the EC to hold elections to these three seats along with the 18 that are now going to polls on 18 April. The resolution had further stated that the party would move the court if it did not happen.

Today, the DMK moved the Supreme Court seeking the inclusion of these constituencies in the by-election schedule and the court agreed to hear the case 15 March.